COVID-19 cases are once again seeing a rapid increase in numbers across the country. While much of this is being attributed to the much more contagious Delta variant, some are arguing that the actual underlying cause is “vaccine hesitancy” among the general population. With almost 7 months of 2021 in the books, it is safe to say that most people in the United States have been given ample opportunity to receive the shot. Yet, the numbers show that only 49% of the eligible U.S. population has been vaccinated. Why is this though? Common reasons include general distrust of the vaccine, lack of trust in the government and the institutions administering the vaccines, many not seeing COVID-19 as a real threat, and a variety of conspiracy theories that have been widespread across social media and the internet.
While it is completely unreasonable to expect the entire population to go out and get the vaccine, the issue understandably causes frustration. The solution to the pandemic and to a return to normal life seems to be within grasp yet many are still hesitant. One half of the country trusts the vaccine while the other half doesn’t or seems to be completely indifferent to it altogether.
This hasn’t stopped some businesses from taking matters into their own hands. The NFL, America’s most popular sports league, recently came out with regulations stating that teams that are unable to play games due to COVID-19 outbreaks could face having to forfeit games as well as financial losses for individual players. New York’s mayor has even gone as far as to urge businesses in the state to require employee vaccinations, a practice which is becoming more commonplace among companies across the country and which is fully permitted according to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
It will be interesting to see, as time goes on, whether these types of business-wide mandates will cause a positive shift in the number of the American public being vaccinated or whether those who are hesitant to get the vaccine will remain that way.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group Blog. If you are in need of legal help, the CIMA Law Group is a law firm in Phoenix, Arizona which possesses expertise in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
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